Sell That House - Show 477

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 477

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Sell That House."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Knock Down that Clutter
- Six Steps for a Successful Sale
- Hot Or Not
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Mortgage Rates Unchanged Despite Market Improvements; Affordability Likely to Get Worse

Mortgage rates were generally unchanged today, although a few lenders offered slight improvements. This stands in contrast to the noticeable improvements in underlying bond markets. As we discussed yesterday, Treasury yields are leading the charge toward lower rates, and while the bonds that underlie mortgages are definitely lagging that move, they're improving nonetheless. But again, you wouldn't really know it based on today's rate sheets. The absence of lender improvements on days like today is unfortunately par for the course . It was only a half day for bond markets and tomorrow is a full closure for the Good Friday holiday. As such, there's additional risk involved for lenders dropping mortgage rates for 2 reasons. First, the counterparties required to trade the underlying bonds are harder

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/29/3293

Walmart adds local sites to online pickup network; new Broad Ripple men's boutique planned

Walmart has added four Indianapolis-area stores to its network of sites where customers can pick up their online orders. Also: A new menswear shop is coming to Broad Ripple.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/68185-walmart-adds-local-sites-to-online-pickup-network-new-broad-ripple-mens-boutique-planned

Mortgage Volumes Among Best of Year; Pending Home Sales Recover; Rates at 2-Week Lows

Applications for both refinancing and home purchases gained ground during the week ended March 23. The result was the largest week-over-week gains for overall loan volume since mid-January. The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA's) Market Composite Index a measure of application volume, jumped 4.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis compared to the week ended March 16. On an unadjusted basis the index was up 5 percent. The Refinancing Index posted its largest positive change since the first week of 2018, rising 7.0 percent compared to the previous week. The refinance share of applications for the week rose to 39.4 percent compared to 38.4 percent a week earlier, reversing a slide that began in early February. Purchase mortgage volume continued to improve, rising for the fifth consecutive

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/28/3291

Affordability Not a Concern Despite Ongoing Price Gains; Rates Quickly Down to 2 Week Lows

As of yesterday, it looked like mortgage rates would be more interested in staying in a narrow, sideways range for the holiday-shortened Spring Break/Good Friday trading week. Today, financial markets gave us a reminder about how much reality can differ from apparently probable outcomes. Fortunately, the surprises work in the favor of the mortgage market today as rates are sharply lower (at least in the context of the recent range, which has been extremely narrow). Bonds (which underlie rates) drew motivation from a combination of factors today. These included compulsory trades that had to be made by the end of the month, automatic trades made in response to certain lines in the sand, and safe-haven trades resulting from the massive losses in the stock market. The net effect for the average

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/27/3289

Selling a House in 2018 Can Cost More than $18,000

From basic home prep projects like staging or carpet cleaning to closing costs, U.S. homeowners spend thousands of dollars in hidden costs to sell a house

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-27-Selling-a-House-in-2018-Can-Cost-More-than-18-000

Homebuying Attitudes at Odds With Economic Outlook; Homeownership's Effect on Wealth

Positive attitudes toward home buying still predominated in the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) most recent Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) survey, but they are softening . "Yes" responses to the question of whether it is currently a good time to buy dropped from 72 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 to 68 percent in the first quarter of this year, with 5 percentage points of the decline coming from those who "strongly" felt it was a good time. Those who were moderate in their responses rose 1 point. NAR said the survey's findings " surprisingly show that while a growing share of households in the first three months of the year feel more confident about the economy and their financial situation, those positive feelings are not translating to positive views

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/26/3287

Home Price Gains Don't Help Everyone; Mortgage Profits Plummet; New Home Sales Edge Lower

Mortgage rates have increased 49 basis points since the first of the year, with the 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) standing at 4.44 percent on March 15 according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Given the robust economic fundamentals, Freddie Mac's economists expect the Federal Reserve to continue tightening short-term rates and long-term rates, including those for mortgages, should follow them higher, they predict to 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter of this year. Writing in Freddie Mac's Outlook blog, Len Kiefer, the company's Deputy Chief Economist says, even with higher interest rates, his team expects that the housing market will post modest growth this year. The spring market looks like it will be a sellers' market in much of the country because of tight inventories

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/23/3283

"Significant" Reduction in Closing Times; Rates Fall; Hurricane Effects Linger; Home Prices Surge

The 5-point surge in the share of refinancing loans that closed in January didn't survive the month. Ellie Mae's Origination Insight Report shows that share dropped from 45 percent to 43 percent in February. Refinancing lost market share for both VA and conventional loans but held steady at an already low 28 percent of FHA mortgages. Purchase loans grew their share 2 percentage points, rising to 57 percent. "As expected, we are seeing the percentage of refinances taper back off to the projected industry levels," said Jonathan Corr, president and CEO of Ellie Mae. "And with interest rates on the rise, we're seeing the purchase market begin to gain some momentum. We know that the shift to a purchase market will drive the shortened time to close and we will watch to see if the trend continues

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/22/3281

Existing Home Sales Improve; Rates Higher, Then Lower After Fed; Gen Z Already Buying Homes

Mortgage rates rose to new 4-year highs this morning as lenders took a defensive stance ahead of the afternoon's Fed Announcement. The caution proved to be warranted, at least at first, as bond markets reacted negatively to the first phase of Fed-related information. Notably, the Fed Announcement itself wasn't the issue . If anything, it was moderately friendly for rates. Instead, it was the Fed's rate hike outlook (released concurrently with the policy announcement) that did the damage. But again, we're talking about underlying bond markets here. Lenders' rate sheets already reflected that damage preemptively. When new Fed Chair Jerome Powell began his press conference half an hour later, bond markets (which underlie rates) began to improve. Just over an hour after the initial drama, bonds

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/21/3279

Future Housing Market at Mercy of Young Adults; Mortgage Rates Maintain Flat Trajectory Ahead of Fed

Mortgage rates have been on a tear recently , moving sideways with reckless abandon. Since the middle of February, the "effective rate" (based on actual rate sheet offerings and upfront costs) has held inside a narrow range of 4.52% and 4.58%. This lies in stark contrast to the persistent move higher during the first month and a half of 2018 which saw the same effective rate rise from roughly 4.0% into the 4.5% range. When rates are as flat as they are on the approach to a key market event like this Wednesday's Fed announcement. We often see a break in that narrow range after the key event. For now, there's no reason to believe Wednesday WON'T be such a day this time around. Even if Wednesday turns out to be a dud in terms of its impact on rates, it's always safest to plan for the risk (or

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/19/3275

How Long Do Common Household Items Last?

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2018/03/26/how-long-do-common-household-items-last-2/

Home Price Gains Don't Help Everyone; Mortgage Profits Plummet; New Home Sales Edge Lower

Mortgage rates have increased 49 basis points since the first of the year, with the 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) standing at 4.44 percent on March 15 according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Given the robust economic fundamentals, Freddie Mac's economists expect the Federal Reserve to continue tightening short-term rates and long-term rates, including those for mortgages, should follow them higher, they predict to 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter of this year. Writing in Freddie Mac's Outlook blog, Len Kiefer, the company's Deputy Chief Economist says, even with higher interest rates, his team expects that the housing market will post modest growth this year. The spring market looks like it will be a sellers' market in much of the country because of tight inventories

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/23/3283

Buy That House - Show 476

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 476

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Buy That House."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Three Things Every Buyer Should Do
- Hike
- Hot Or Not
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

"Significant" Reduction in Closing Times; Rates Fall; Hurricane Effects Linger; Home Prices Surge

The 5-point surge in the share of refinancing loans that closed in January didn't survive the month. Ellie Mae's Origination Insight Report shows that share dropped from 45 percent to 43 percent in February. Refinancing lost market share for both VA and conventional loans but held steady at an already low 28 percent of FHA mortgages. Purchase loans grew their share 2 percentage points, rising to 57 percent. "As expected, we are seeing the percentage of refinances taper back off to the projected industry levels," said Jonathan Corr, president and CEO of Ellie Mae. "And with interest rates on the rise, we're seeing the purchase market begin to gain some momentum. We know that the shift to a purchase market will drive the shortened time to close and we will watch to see if the trend continues

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/22/3281

Crust pizzeria in Carmel to become Fat Dan's Deli

It will be the third location for Fat Dan's, a Chicago-style deli that also operates downtown and near Broad Ripple. The owner is taking his time with the transition to get to know the Carmel market.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/68101-crust-pizzeria-in-carmel-to-become-fat-dans-deli

Home Price Appreciation: Winners and Losers

U.S. economic fundamentals remain robust. Nonfarm payrolls increased 313,000 month-over-month in the latest employment report, more than 80,000... More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/outlook/20180322_house_price_appreciation.html?attr=rssEHR

Rent Growth Accelerating at Fastest Pace in 21 Months

Median rent across the country rose 2.8 percent over the past year, the fastest pace of appreciation since May 2016, according to Zillow's February Real Estate Market Report

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-22-Rent-Growth-Accelerating-at-Fastest-Pace-in-21-Months

Existing Home Sales Improve; Rates Higher, Then Lower After Fed; Gen Z Already Buying Homes

Mortgage rates rose to new 4-year highs this morning as lenders took a defensive stance ahead of the afternoon's Fed Announcement. The caution proved to be warranted, at least at first, as bond markets reacted negatively to the first phase of Fed-related information. Notably, the Fed Announcement itself wasn't the issue . If anything, it was moderately friendly for rates. Instead, it was the Fed's rate hike outlook (released concurrently with the policy announcement) that did the damage. But again, we're talking about underlying bond markets here. Lenders' rate sheets already reflected that damage preemptively. When new Fed Chair Jerome Powell began his press conference half an hour later, bond markets (which underlie rates) began to improve. Just over an hour after the initial drama, bonds

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/21/3279

Future Housing Market at Mercy of Young Adults; Mortgage Rates Maintain Flat Trajectory Ahead of Fed

Mortgage rates have been on a tear recently , moving sideways with reckless abandon. Since the middle of February, the "effective rate" (based on actual rate sheet offerings and upfront costs) has held inside a narrow range of 4.52% and 4.58%. This lies in stark contrast to the persistent move higher during the first month and a half of 2018 which saw the same effective rate rise from roughly 4.0% into the 4.5% range. When rates are as flat as they are on the approach to a key market event like this Wednesday's Fed announcement. We often see a break in that narrow range after the key event. For now, there's no reason to believe Wednesday WON'T be such a day this time around. Even if Wednesday turns out to be a dud in terms of its impact on rates, it's always safest to plan for the risk (or

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/19/3275

Hot Home Trend: Bring on the Velvet

Photo Credit: Pulte Homes

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

We’re seeing a revival of the 1960s love for velvet in home décor. Velvet has been making its way into more fashion and now it’s expected to make a bigger splash in home décor in 2018.

This heavier fabric can add some luster to a space through upholstery, drapery, bedding, pillows, and furnishings too.

But as in all things, moderation is key. You don’t want to make it look like your home was set for a period drama.

Touches of velvet are on-trend. Many of the hottest trends this year are combining soft and warm elements with harder or darker finishes. So in this case, a mix of velvet – like a velvet accent chair — with then a shiny, metal accent, such as a metallic end table. Designers say together the heaviness versus softness blend offers luxury and sophistication to a room’s look.

The homebuilder Pulte Homes has called velvet one of the hottest home trends of 2018, and they’ve been incorporating it more in the design of their model homes across the country. They’re using touches of velvet, particularly when showing off some industrial glam to some of their properties.

Photo credit: Pulte Homes

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2018/03/19/hot-home-trend-bring-on-the-velvet/

Coasts Lead Household Wealth Gains; Lender Sentiment; Multifamily Drags Construction Down; Decent Week For Rates

While home prices continue to rise and homeowner equity to increase, CoreLogic reports that there are still 2.5 million mortgages in negative equity . The company's fourth quarter 2017 equity report states that homeowners increased their house-related wealth by an average of $15,000 from Q4 2016 through the end of 2017. The aggregate of these gains nationally was $908 billion, a year-over-year growth of 12.2 percent. Frank Martell, CoreLogic president and CEO said, "There are wide disparities in home-equity gains by geographic areas, with higher-priced, capacity constrained markets along the East and West Coasts registering the largest increases. The average homeowner in California and Washington had a wealth gain of about $40,000, reflecting the high price of homes in California and the rapid

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/16/3271

Why is Adulting Getting Harder? Young Adults and Household Formation

Young adults of this era lead lives quite different from earlier generations. Compared to older generations, as a group they have been slow to reach life milestones... More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/insight/20180316_adulting.html?attr=rssEHR

The Spring Market - Show 475

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 475

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "The Spring Market."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Spring Buyer Strategies
- Spring Seller Strategies
- Hot Or Not
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Honky-tonk restaurant, music venue coming to near-south side

Duke's Indy plans to open this month in the building that formerly housed the Ice House restaurant, which recently closed after 34 years in business.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/68014-honky-tonk-barrestaurant-coming-to-indianapolis-near-south-side

Land Shortage Dims Builder Confidence; Mortgage Rates Hold Steady at Lowest Levels in March; NAR on Debt Forgiveness

Mortgage rates held steady today as political headlines helped to offset some initial weakness in bond markets. When bonds weaken, rates tend to move higher. That said, this morning's weakness was quite modest. The helpful headlines (regarding Robert Mueller's subpoena of members of the Trump Organization) had a similarly modest effect, thus leaving bonds and rates in relatively unchanged territory. That's perfectly acceptable in this case because it means rates are holding in line with their lowest levels since March 1st. The risk is that March 1st served as a floor for rates after they began falling from mid-February highs. It could be the case that rates will have a tough time moving any lower than today's levels without more meaningful motivation and that they're waiting to decide on such

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/15/3269

Roundup: Kimbal Musk eateries opening soon; Aldi remodelings continue

The new Musk restaurants include Hedge Row on Mass Ave and Next Door in Meridian-Kessler. Also this week: Aldi stores spruce up, electrical supply stores enter the Indianapolis market, and more.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/68009-roundup-kimbal-musk-eateries-opening-soon-aldi-remodelings-continue

Millennial Homeownership Up, Inventory Woes Persist; Rates at 2-Week Lows

Millennials are picking up the pace of moving into homeownership, but the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) says not all are finding a way. Its 2018 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study found that inventory constraints and higher housing costs have prevented some from leaving the more affordable confines of their parents' homes. The study evaluates the generational differences of recent home buyers and sellers and found that slightly more than a third of home purchases over the last year, 36 percent, were made by Millennials, an increase from 34 percent in 2017, making them the most active generation of buyers for the fifth year . Gen X buyers accounted for 26 percent of sales, baby boomers for 32 percent, and the silent generation, those born between 1925 and 1945, 6 percent

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/14/3267

New Home Sales Up 3% YoY; Mortgage Rates Lowest in More Than a Week

New home sales are projected to have increased again in February. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said that based on its Builder Applications Survey (BAS) it anticipates those sales grew 4.6 percent compared to January and were 3 percent higher on a year-over-year basis . These numbers do not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns. When seasonally adjusted, the February estimate is down from 700,000 in January, a decrease of 9.7 percent. On an unadjusted basis MBA estimates there were 55,000 new homes sold during the month. This is an increase of 1.9 percent from 54,000 new home sales in January. "Mortgage applications for new homes continued to grow in February on a year over year basis, although at a slower pace of just under 5 percent, as brisk activity in January likely

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/13/3265

Rising Mortgage Rates Could Threaten Housing Affordability

Rates have risen steadily since the beginning of 2018 after years of historically low mortgage rates maintained affordable monthly homeownership costs

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-13-Rising-Mortgage-Rates-Could-Threaten-Housing-Affordability

Dodd-Frank Fixes Set for Senate Passage; House Poised to Pounce; Rates Just Barely Lower

The Senate looks set to pass Senate Bill 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, which seeks to undo some of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, passed in the wake of the financial crisis. Sixteen Democrats joined 50 Republicans to allow a vote on the bill, sponsored by offered by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and three other Democrats. The bill in its present form makes some changes to mortgage regulations, but there is concern about what it might look like if it survives to pass the House. The bill that passed out of the Senate Banking Committee amends the Truth in Lending Act to allow institutions with less than $10 billion in assets to waive some of the ability-to-repay requirements of the

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/12/3263

Roundup: Circle Centre sues another tenant; Freddy's opens 300th eatery

Circle Centre claims a now-closed beauty salon owes unpaid rent. Plus: Untuckit has joined the Fashion Mall roster, Fira Boutique has closed in Broad Ripple, and the Freddy's steakburger chain hits a big milestone on the south side.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/67915-roundup-circle-centre-sues-another-tenant-whole-foods-sets-downtown-indianapolis-opening-date-more

Roundup: Circle Centre sues another tenant; Freddy's opens 300th eatery

Circle Centre claims a now-closed beauty salon owes unpaid rent. Plus: Untuckit has joined the Fashion Mall roster, Fira Boutique has closed in Broad Ripple, and the Freddy's steakburger chain hits a big milestone on the south side.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/67915-roundup-circle-centre-sues-another-tenant-whole-foods-sets-downtown-indianapolis-opening-date-more

Roundup: Circle Centre sues another tenant; Freddy's opens 300th eatery

Circle Centre claims a now-closed beauty salon owes unpaid rent. Plus: Untuckit has joined the Fashion Mall roster, Fira Boutique has closed in Broad Ripple, and the Freddy's steakburger chain hits a big milestone on the south side.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/67915-roundup-circle-centre-sues-another-tenant-whole-foods-sets-downtown-indianapolis-opening-date-more

Roundup: Circle Centre sues another tenant; Freddy's opens 300th eatery

Circle Centre claims a now-closed beauty salon owes unpaid rent. Plus: Untuckit has joined the Fashion Mall roster, Fira Boutique has closed in Broad Ripple, and the Freddy's steakburger chain hits a big milestone on the south side.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/67915-roundup-circle-centre-sues-another-tenant-whole-foods-sets-downtown-indianapolis-opening-date-more

Roundup: Circle Centre sues another tenant; Freddy's opens 300th eatery

Circle Centre claims a now-closed beauty salon owes unpaid rent. Plus: Untuckit has joined the Fashion Mall roster, Fira Boutique has closed in Broad Ripple, and the Freddy's steakburger chain hits a big milestone on the south side.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/67915-roundup-circle-centre-sues-another-tenant-whole-foods-sets-downtown-indianapolis-opening-date-more

Does the Color Purple Have a Place in Staging?

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Pantone selected Ultra Violet as its 2018 Color of the Year. The vibrant color is popping up in more fashion, but when it comes to home design, is it just too bold for staging? After all, no one wants to deal with a purple elephant in the room when trying to stage a home for sale.

But designers are showing tasteful ways to weave in shades of purple to brighten otherwise neutral decorated rooms. Purple up against a mostly all-beige or all-white room can be just the colorful statement to welcome in the spring buying season.

Purple painted rooms still may be a harder sell in a home for sale, but purple hues in pillows, throw blankets, accessories, florals, or even accent chairs or a tufted couch may just be the touch of purple that takes a room from blah to memorable.

Below we feature a few examples from the popular remodeling site Houzz that show how purple accents can be used in a chic way to brighten up a space. What do you think? Will purple be a hot accent for your spring-time staging?

Purple Velvet

Purple velvety accent chairs against an otherwise neutral backdrop helps make this room more eye-catching.

Photo by Smith Firestone Associates – Look for living room pictures

Photo by Gemma Zimmerhansl Interior Design Ltd – Look for living room pictures

 

Purple Pattern

The lime green patterned bedding helps to offset the purple statements in this bedroom design.

Photo by Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design – Look for bedroom design inspiration

 

Purple Accents

All shades of purple help spice up the décor in this living room, from the flowers to the ottomans, pillows, and blanket.

Photo by Wesley-Wayne Interiors, LLC – Browse living room photos

 

Purple Accent Walls

If you do purple on the walls, you may want to make it in just a small spot–careful not to overpower the room. Check out this example below, in which the designers use purple wallpaper to accent a fireplace nook in the dining room. The purple hue is then repeated in the lighting fixture and curtains.

Photo by FiSHER iD – Browse dining room ideas

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2018/03/12/does-the-color-purple-have-a-place-in-staging/

Changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Could Cost Borrowers Additional $400 in Monthly Mortgage Payments

Government-sponsored enterprises play a major role in making home loans affordable for Americans; Zillow analysis examines mortgage costs if reform reduced access to government-backed mortgages

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-09-Changes-to-Fannie-Mae-and-Freddie-Mac-Could-Cost-Borrowers-Additional-400-in-Monthly-Mortgage-Payments

Tampa is the Best Market for First-time Homebuyers

The best markets for first-time home shoppers offer more affordable homes and a less competitive environment

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-07-Tampa-is-the-Best-Market-for-First-time-Homebuyers

Changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Could Cost Borrowers Additional $400 in Monthly Mortgage Payments

Government-sponsored enterprises play a major role in making home loans affordable for Americans; Zillow analysis examines mortgage costs if reform reduced access to government-backed mortgages

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-09-Changes-to-Fannie-Mae-and-Freddie-Mac-Could-Cost-Borrowers-Additional-400-in-Monthly-Mortgage-Payments

Tampa is the Best Market for First-time Homebuyers

The best markets for first-time home shoppers offer more affordable homes and a less competitive environment

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-07-Tampa-is-the-Best-Market-for-First-time-Homebuyers

Mortgage Rates Paradoxically Steady After Jobs Report; Not All Recoveries Created Equal; FHA/VA Updates

Mortgage rates must really like being where they are right now, because they've been at roughly the same levels for the past 5 days! Not only is this highly out of character for 2018, it's not even that common in general (might happen a few times a year, historically). And while the stability was relatively easy to reconcile during the first 4 days of the week, it comes as a surprise today. Reason being: the important jobs report was much stronger than expected and bond markets (which underlie rates) reacted in a clearly negative way. In other words, bonds suggested that rates should move noticeably higher today. There are two ways to make sense of this. On one hand, yesterday's bond market movements suggested improvement in rates that never materialized. In that sense, we were "owed," for

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/9/3261

Tax Time - Show 474

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 474

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Tax Time."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- The Capital Gains Exclusion
- The Time Change and Fire Safety
- Hot Or Not
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Could Cost Borrowers Additional $400 in Monthly Mortgage Payments

Government-sponsored enterprises play a major role in making home loans affordable for Americans; Zillow analysis examines mortgage costs if reform reduced access to government-backed mortgages

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-09-Changes-to-Fannie-Mae-and-Freddie-Mac-Could-Cost-Borrowers-Additional-400-in-Monthly-Mortgage-Payments

Single Investor Crashes Mortgage Credit Availability Index; 3rd Straight Day of Steady Rates. 4th Unlikely

Mortgage rates were generally unchanged for the 3rd day in a row today despite a fair amount of movement in underlying bond markets. Rates reacted to European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi who gave no indications that the ECB would make abrupt changes to its policies. That's good for rates because even though those policies are on track to begin winding down in September, they're currently fairly rate friendly. What does Europe have to do with rates in the US? That's a fair question. To be sure, central bank policy coming from our own Federal Reserve ("The Fed") tends to have much more impact on domestic rates, but the ECB and other major central banks still matter . After all, if policies are pushing rates down in Europe, it makes US rates that much more attractive, comparatively

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/8/3259

Roundup: Circle Centre sues another tenant; Freddy's opens 300th eatery

Circle Centre claims a now-closed beauty salon owes unpaid rent. Plus: Untuckit has joined the Fashion Mall roster, Fira Boutique has closed in Broad Ripple, and the Freddy's steakburger chain hits a milestone on the south side.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/67915-roundup-circle-centre-sues-another-tenant-whole-foods-sets-downtown-indianapolis-opening-date-more

Survey Sees Home Prices Finally Turning; Builders Weigh in on Tariffs; Refi Apps Did Heavy Lifting

Americans may be growing a bit pessimistic about housing, that came through loud and clear in the results of Fannie Mae's February edition of the National Housing Survey (NHS). Fannie Mae said its Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI), which is a distillation of some of the answers to the survey, dropped 3.7 points in February, reversing to the penny the increase posted in January. The HPSI returned to its December level of 85.8, down 2.5 points compared with the February survey results in 2017. Five of the six components that go into constructing the HPSI were lower, including the net percentage of both those saying it was a good time to buy and those who think it is a good time to sell. The good time to buy question elicited net positive responses from 22 percent of respondents, down 5 percentage

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/7/3257

Tampa is the Best Market for First-time Homebuyers

The best markets for first-time home shoppers offer more affordable homes and a less competitive environment

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-07-Tampa-is-the-Best-Market-for-First-time-Homebuyers

Hot Trends - Show 473

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 473

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Hot Trends."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Where We Are
- An Excellent Trend
- Hot Or Not
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Kite Realty nixes plan for movies-and-bowling venue in Carmel

Kite Realty Group Trust’s plan to bring a Frank Theatres CineBowl entertainment venue to help fill big vacancies at Hamilton Crossing Centre has fallen through.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/67815-kite-realty-nixes-plan-for-movies-and-bowling-venue-in-carmel

Zillow Awards First Round Prizes in Zestimate Competition

100 teams advance to the Second Round of the Zillow Prize competition to improve the Zestimate's accuracy

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-01-Zillow-Awards-First-Round-Prizes-in-Zestimate-Competition

Experts Think Amazon Will Choose Atlanta or Northern Virginia as its Second Headquarters

Atlanta home values and rents are well below the national average, making it an attractive option for Amazon's second headquarters

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-01-Experts-Think-Amazon-Will-Choose-Atlanta-or-Northern-Virginia-as-its-Second-Headquarters

Builders Find Loan Standards Easing; Rates Snap Back, Highest in a Week

Lenders appear to be easing the way for lending in areas crucial to the home construction industry. The National Association of Homebuilders said its fourth quarter 2017 survey of builders and developers showed a net easing in conditions for funding acquisition and development of construction sites and for construction of single family homes. The measure of overall AD&C funding on NAHB's tightening index was -15.7, compared to -7.3 in the fourth quarter of 2016 and -7.6 in the third quarter of 2017, indicating that the easing was accelerating rapidly . Individual readings also indicated that an acceleration of easing for both development and construction funding, there was a quarter-over-quarter change of 11 points toward the favorable in development conditions, while conditions for land

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/6/3255

Black Knight on Market Changes; Mortgage Rates Start Strong, But End The Day Higher

Mortgage rates ended higher today, after financial markets reacted to developments in last week's tariff-related news. Last Thursday, stock prices and interest rates fell in response to the tariff announcement because investors figured it ran the risk of doing more economic harm than good. In general, economic weakness/risks/fear tends to push rates lower. Today, congressional leaders made statements that effectively opposed the tariffs as written. In fact, one Republican source said not to rule out "potential action" in the near future if Trump continues with the Tariff plan. Much like the initial news hurt stocks and helped rates last week, the potential reversal or mitigation of that news did the opposite today. Stocks prices and bond yields rose in concert. In general, when bond yields

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/5/3253

Mortgage Rates Snap Higher; Tax Law Unlikely to Impact Home Prices; Fannie/Freddie Changes

Mortgage rates snapped back toward recent highs today. Part of this has to do with how well rates have done over the past 3 weeks. Granted, rates haven't moved significantly lower over that time, but they've at least avoided moving significantly higher--something that couldn't be said for every other week in 2018. There are several big and intractable reasons for the general rise in rates, and none of them have changed. As such, investors in the bond market (which underlies rate movement) are understandably hesitant to make trades that push rates very much lower. They were already on the edge of their comfort zone when yesterday's tariff announcement forced rates even lower. With that line having been crossed, buyers disappeared (bond buying pushes rates lower) and seller took over on Friday

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/2/3251

Mortgage Rates Drop to Best Levels in 2 Weeks; Construction Spending Down, But Single-Fam Hangs Tough

Mortgage rates moved lower today--somewhat significantly relative to recent examples--ultimately hitting the best levels in more than a week for most lenders. Trump's tariff announcement served as a catalyst for market movement in both stocks and bonds (which underlie mortgage rates). Investors currently view the proposed tariffs as something that would do more harm than good for the overall economy. Economic growth generally corresponds with rising rates, so anything that calls it into question can have the opposite effect. It's too early, at the point, to know if the tariff-related news will be a big deal for rates apart from today's headline shock value. What we do know is that rates are officially putting up their best fight so far this year when it comes to pushing back against the dominant

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/1/3249

Pending Home Sales Plunge to Three-Year Lows; Rates Avoid Setting Another High; Homeownership Trade-Off Getting Expensive

Pending home sales took a deep dive in January, falling to their lowest level in over three years . The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) said its Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator of existing home sales, fell 4.7 percent to 104.6. The December index, which had represented an 0.5 percent increase from November, was revised down from 110.1 to 109.8. The January loss put pending sales 3.8 percent behind the pace in January 2017 and at its lowest level since October 2014. Analysts had expected the index, which is based on contracts to purchase an existing home, to increase slightly from the previous month. The range of estimates from those polled by Econoday ranged from -0.2 percent to 0.8 percent. The consensus was 0.3 percent. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/2/28/3247

Home Prices Still Gaining, But Slowing Slightly; Mortgage Rates Snap Right Back to 4-Year Highs

It was a good run for mortgage rates , relative to the rest of 2018, but after spending 3 days in a row with mild-to-moderate improvements, rates quickly snapped back to multi-year highs today. The general trend in 2018 as well as the general level of volatility deserve some of the credit. The bonds that underlie mortgage rate pricing actually aren't quite back to last week's levels. Lenders are simply quicker to adjust things for the worse when the trend has been unfriendly and when the prices of those underlying bonds have been jumping around as much as they have. The other part of the credit goes to the market's interpretation of comments made by new Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who gave his first semi-annual congressional testimony today. Powell didn't do or say anything wrong.

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/2/27/3245

Black Knight on Market Changes; Mortgage Rates Start Strong, But End The Day Higher

Mortgage rates ended higher today, after financial markets reacted to developments in last week's tariff-related news. Last Thursday, stock prices and interest rates fell in response to the tariff announcement because investors figured it ran the risk of doing more economic harm than good. In general, economic weakness/risks/fear tends to push rates lower. Today, congressional leaders made statements that effectively opposed the tariffs as written. In fact, one Republican source said not to rule out "potential action" in the near future if Trump continues with the Tariff plan. Much like the initial news hurt stocks and helped rates last week, the potential reversal or mitigation of that news did the opposite today. Stocks prices and bond yields rose in concert. In general, when bond yields

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/5/3253

Will the New Tax Bill Dampen the Industry?

Mortgage rates entered 2018 below four percent for the 30-year fixed rate mortgage, but have been surging through the first two months of this year, following... More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/outlook/20180227_new_tax_bill.html?attr=rssEHR

2018 Home Trends to Guide Your Staging

Article Submitted by Fixr.com

Before you’re able to successfully stage a home for sale, you need to understand your target audience, and the kinds of things they’re looking for in a home. Home buyers today are much more savvy than previous generations; they know what they want, and they’re willing to wait to get it.

In a recent survey, industry influencers shared what they felt were the top trends in single-family homes for 2018. These trends took a good look at what home buyers were looking for, and what potential sellers and real estate pros can do to help make properties more attractive to those looking at them.

Before you stage another home this year, be sure to consider these top single-family home trends in 2018 to truly understand your audience.

The Purchasers

Before you can stage anything, you need to know a little more about whom you’re staging the rooms for. And while in years past, Baby Boomers made up the bulk of the home buying market, in 2018, you’ll be seeing a predominantly younger demographic.

Fifty-three percent of industry influencers surveyed believe that members of Generation X, aged ages 38 to 53, will compromise the majority of the market, while an additional 34 percent feel that Millennials, ages 21 to 37, will make up the remainder. With this younger group of buyers purchasing more than ever before, you need to pay more attention to what they want during your home staging rather than relying on trends of years past.

Keep in mind that influencers also feel that things like faux finishes and jewel tones—popular design trends of years past–are all out as far as today’s buyers are concerned.

Floor Plans

While you can’t always change every floor plan of every home, you can remove a few walls from a home’s interiors if it means making it more appealing to buyers. More than 70 percent of real estate influencers believe that an open floor plan will be something that home buyers want to see.

Open floor plans are great for entertaining, they help maximize natural light, and are extremely versatile in terms of how the space can be set up and used. These attributes are helping drive more home buyers, especially younger buyers, toward open concept homes than ever before.

Smart Features

When you’re staging a home for sale, don’t overlook one of the most popular trends right now–the smart home. While you don’t have to automate everything in the home to entice buyers, switching out lights for smart bulbs, and adding in things like a smart thermostat and front door lock can go a long way toward encouraging interest amongst buyers.

Fifty percent of influencers surveyed feel that smart homes are going to be the biggest feature that home buyers are looking for in 2018. Smart homes are accessible, functional, and according to Energy Star , they can also save homeowners money–10 percent to 30 percent on energy bills just by switching to a smart thermostat alone. That can certainly be very attractive to prospective buyers.

Exteriors

Everyone knows how important curb appeal is to a home. And today’s trends for home exteriors can help you make the most of a property’s curb appeal during the staging process. This includes using cool colors on the exterior, and for a fast and easy update to the yard, add some potted or raised planters to create a cozy atmosphere that attracts those who enter the yard.

Voice Control

As long as you’re including a few smart features in the home design, be sure to introduce voice control features as well. Surveyed influencers believe that voice control as part of home automation will be a very attractive addition to many homes for today’s buyers.

Luckily, with so many voice-controlled devices on the market, it’s easy to find one that will fit seamlessly in with the rest of the home’s design, helping to capture the attention of any prospective buyer who stops in.

To learn about the cost of household remodeling projects, visit the Cost Guides.

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2018/03/05/2018-home-trends-to-guide-your-staging/

Hot Home Trend: Go Big With Your Tile

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Supersized tiles are making over more floors, and this may be welcome news to many homeowners. Large format tiles means less grout to clean. The large tile trend may be partially motivated out of function, not just aesthetics.

More homeowners are experimenting with larger tile sizes, whether with porcelain, ceramic, or vinyl flooring.

Tile squares may be about 12 inches or so in most standard kitchen floors. But now sizes up to 24 inches or more are catching on.

Besides the easier-to-clean aspects of this, the larger tile squares often can make a space look bigger. That’s because there are less grout lines breaking up a floor into boxy squares, which leads to the perceptions of elongated spaces. (Another tip from designers in elongating a space with your tile: Be sure to select a grout color that most closely matches the color of your tile. That will also help make your floors look more expansive.)

The larger tile formats are popping up in kitchen flooring and as in bathrooms surrounding the tub or shower. Designers say the larger formats offer a more modern, “clean lines” vibe to a room’s flooring.

Photo by B•D•G Design Group – More kitchen ideas

Photo by Ziger/Snead Architects – Browse kitchen ideas

Photo by AT STUDIO – Browse bathroom ideas

Photo by GM Urban Design & Architecture – Discover bathroom design ideas

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/VtJACqXbiPI/

Mortgage Rates Snap Higher; Tax Law Unlikely to Impact Home Prices; Fannie/Freddie Changes

Mortgage rates snapped back toward recent highs today. Part of this has to do with how well rates have done over the past 3 weeks. Granted, rates haven't moved significantly lower over that time, but they've at least avoided moving significantly higher--something that couldn't be said for every other week in 2018. There are several big and intractable reasons for the general rise in rates, and none of them have changed. As such, investors in the bond market (which underlies rate movement) are understandably hesitant to make trades that push rates very much lower. They were already on the edge of their comfort zone when yesterday's tariff announcement forced rates even lower. With that line having been crossed, buyers disappeared (bond buying pushes rates lower) and seller took over on Friday

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/2/3251

Hot Trends - Show 473

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 473

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Hot Trends."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Where We Are
- An Excellent Trend
- Hot Or Not
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Mortgage Rates Drop to Best Levels in 2 Weeks; Construction Spending Down, But Single-Fam Hangs Tough

Mortgage rates moved lower today--somewhat significantly relative to recent examples--ultimately hitting the best levels in more than a week for most lenders. Trump's tariff announcement served as a catalyst for market movement in both stocks and bonds (which underlie mortgage rates). Investors currently view the proposed tariffs as something that would do more harm than good for the overall economy. Economic growth generally corresponds with rising rates, so anything that calls it into question can have the opposite effect. It's too early, at the point, to know if the tariff-related news will be a big deal for rates apart from today's headline shock value. What we do know is that rates are officially putting up their best fight so far this year when it comes to pushing back against the dominant

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/3/1/3249

Kite Realty nixes plans for movies-and-bowling venue in Carmel

Kite Realty Group Trust’s plan to bring a Frank Theatres CineBowl entertainment venue to help fill big vacancies at Hamilton Crossing Centre appears to have fallen through.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/67815-kite-realty-nixes-plans-for-movies-and-bowling-venue-in-carmel

Zillow Awards First Round Prizes in Zestimate Competition

100 teams advance to the Second Round of the Zillow Prize competition to improve the Zestimate's accuracy

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-01-Zillow-Awards-First-Round-Prizes-in-Zestimate-Competition

Experts Think Amazon Will Choose Atlanta or Northern Virginia as its Second Headquarters

Atlanta home values and rents are well below the national average, making it an attractive option for Amazon's second headquarters

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-03-01-Experts-Think-Amazon-Will-Choose-Atlanta-or-Northern-Virginia-as-its-Second-Headquarters